Exhibit 5.1



                                 March 22, 2001

Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20549-1004

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I am Vice President - Development Law and Assistant Secretary of Darden
Restaurants, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), and I am familiar with
the  Company's  registration  statement  on Form S-8 relating to the sale by the
Company from time to time of up to 3,900,000 shares of Common Stock, without par
value, of the Company (the "Shares"),  issuable  pursuant to the Company's Stock
Plan for Directors,  Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors and Restaurant
Management and Employee Stock Plan of 2000 (collectively, the "Plans").

         I have examined such  documents and have reviewed such questions of law
as I have  considered  necessary and appropriate for the purposes of my opinions
set forth below.

         In  rendering  my  opinions  set  forth  below,   I  have  assumed  the
authenticity of all documents  submitted to me as originals,  the genuineness of
all  signatures  and the  conformity  to authentic  originals  of all  documents
submitted  to me as  copies.  I have also  assumed  the legal  capacity  for all
purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons and, with respect to all parties
to agreements or instruments  relevant hereto other than the Company,  that such
parties had the  requisite  power and  authority  (corporate  or  otherwise)  to
execute,  deliver  and  perform  such  agreements  or  instruments,   that  such
agreements or  instruments  have been duly  authorized  by all requisite  action
(corporate or  otherwise),  executed and delivered by such parties and that such
agreements or instruments are the valid, binding and enforceable  obligations of
such  parties.  As to questions of fact  material to my opinions,  I have relied
upon certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials.

         Based on the  foregoing,  I am of the opinion that the Shares have been
duly authorized and, upon issuance,  delivery and payment therefor in accordance
with the terms of the Plans,  and any relevant  agreements  thereunder,  will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         My  opinions  expressed  above are  limited to the laws of the State of
Florida.

         I hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
registration statement on Form S-8 of the Company relating to the Plans.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         /s/ James O. McIntosh

                                         James O. McIntosh